Tips For Slashing Auto Costs In The Long Run

If you use your car for work, you’ll know just how expensive owning a vehicle can be. But even if you just use it to do the shopping and pick up the kids from school, it’s still a major cost.

If you’re somebody who likes cutting costs, the car is a great place to start. You want the convenience of the car, but you don’t want just owning one to bankrupt you.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to take a few simple steps that reduce your auto costs in the long run. Yes, it involves a little effort today, but your bank balance will thank you later.

Review Your Policy Annually

Every year your usage changes, but your insurance company doesn’t know this. Perhaps you recently moved to the middle of town, and you don’t need to use the car so much. Maybe you started working from home, and now your car is parked on your drive most of the day.

www.flickr.com

Telling your insurance company you’re using your car less is a surefire way to reduce your annual insurance bill. If you want proof of that fact, check out the insurance calculator at www.confused.com.

Choose A Different Level Of Cover And Negotiate

Insurers will usually try to increase the cost of your yearly premium because they assume you won’t challenge them on it. They’re wrong. Get on the phone and tell them that you’ve seen a cheaper deal on a comparison website. You’ll be amazed at how much the price you were originally quoted comes down.

Also, avoid getting additional cover you don’t need. Some insurers will offer so-called “key-man” insurance if an accident means that you can’t run a business.

Others will provide immediate car replacements and free stays in hotels. But unless you do a lot of business travel, you don’t need this additional cover.

Don’t Skip A Service

Because cars have so many moving parts, there’s a lot that can go wrong. And some of these failures can be both dangerous and expensive according to http://www.trannyman.net.

But having a complete service history saves you money in two ways. Firstly, it means that problems are identified before they can go on to do serious damage to your engine or you. A damaged timing belt is a disaster waiting to happen. If it snaps, then you risk destroying the valves in your engine and camshaft damage. And repairs often run into thousands of dollars. But good mechanics will inform you of the impending danger and recommend to replace it immediately.

Secondly, it makes it easier to sell your car in the future, if the service history is complete.

Be More Zen

Driving like a boy racer every day can make a real dent in your finances. Though fuel is cheaper than it was, it’s still a major cost.

Revving the car or accelerating quickly uses more fuel than if you accelerate more slowly.

Finally, remember that cars take a little while to warm up and be optimally efficient. So take it easy for the first few miles of your journey.